Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2011-03-14 10:21
As a flautist, vibrato is one of those things that constantly gripes me. Maybe I am just fussy, but I find that many performers use it inappropriately. Flute players, like Chris says, just overdo it. It becomes the point of the sound rather than one of many tools used to express and colour an already developed sound.
Pattyoboe, it is my understanding that they understood the technique of vibrato even in the baroque, but as far as flute players are concerned, with the birth of Quantz' The Art of Flute Playing, vibrato was largely frowned upon, perhaps for the reasons we speak of now, in an effort to return to allowing the tone and music to express itself. I don't know if this also relates to oboists (my oboe history is sadly lacking a little!) but I do remember reading the Mozart letters you are talking about!
To me, vibrato is a technique we can employ in our search of expressing music, as is articulation, dynamics, phrasing, timbre, emphasis, etc. It is not the be all and end all. I find it exhausting to listen to a performer with constant vibrato. Some flute players use it even during semiquaver runs! Some have such a wide vibrato that most of their playing sounds completely overblown. I am also aware of double reed teachers (I have been told this by students) who teach vibrato as a way of covering tuning issues.
The best education is listening. I tell my students that I can merely teach the the mechanics of vibrato, but they need to go and learn how to use it for themselves. I can advise them where it's appropriate, but I don't advocate constant use of it. And I think those who use less often play with the most expression, because they are acutely aware of where they should be using it and have made that conscious decision.
Thanks for the thread, Chris, it is an issue close to my heart!!
Rachel
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